First contact
Contact the lawyer
Briefly describe the task and mention the nearest deadline. Sensitive documents can be shared after a conflict-of-interest check through an agreed channel.
What to include
- your name and preferred reply channel
- type of matter
- three to seven key events
- the other party’s name for a conflict-of-interest check
- location or court and nearest deadline
- the practical outcome you seek
What not to send initially
- the full file or originals
- passwords, banking or medical data unless requested
- unnecessary third-party data
- documents through an open messenger by default
What happens next
- a conflict-of-interest check
- clarification of facts, deadline and urgency
- fit with the office’s practice areas
- agreement of a secure document channel
- a proposed consultation or other agreed work
If a deadline is imminent
- put the exact date and document name in the first line
- do not treat a form response as acceptance of an engagement
- where life or safety is at risk, contact emergency services first
When to contact a lawyer
- before signing an agreement or statement with long-term consequences
- after receiving a claim, court order, ruling, summons or written refusal
- when an inheritance, response, appeal or other procedural deadline is approaching
- where property may be transferred or evidence may be lost
- when negotiations have stalled and court and out-of-court routes need comparison
How to prepare the first conversation
- state the practical outcome in one sentence
- list the main events in chronological order with dates
- name connected persons for the conflict check
- provide the location, court, case number and nearest deadline if known
- prepare a document list but do not send the full file before a channel is agreed